RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., July 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Many pet owners are unaware that some pets suffer from allergies. Alta Rancho Pet & Bird Hospital in Rancho Cucamonga, California, is seeking to change this by raising awareness about pet allergies and possible treatments pet owners can pursue. The clinic offers treatment for pet allergies through efforts to desensitize pets from their allergens in an effort to help relieve the allergy symptoms.

Pet allergies can be completely distressing for pet owners and for the pets themselves. Recognizing and understanding the symptoms of allergies in pets is the first line of defense pet owners and veterinarians can pursue in order to bring relief to the pet and provide proper treatments to address the allergies themselves.

The process often involves eliminating certain foods from the diet in order to identify the specific foods animals are allergic to. For example, a food allergy to chicken is common among dogs. In order to identify the primary allergy, though, it is necessary to avoid products that contain chicken, chicken proteins, or fats from chicken – all of which are commonly found in dog foods. There are a number of "hypo-allergenic" diets which can be tried to help confirm the diagnosis of food allergy.

Inhaled allergies are also quite bothersome for today's pets and can result in a wide range of conditions, including chronic ear infections, itchiness, skin thickening, skin pigmentation, a greasy coat, flaky skin, bad odor of skin and sores on the skin. Allergies tend to be worse during the spring and summer when allergens from pollen, flowering plants, grass and trees are widespread. In mild climates like Rancho Cucamonga, the allergy season can last throughout the year, though.

Diagnosis of inhalant allergies can be achieved through intradermal skin testing, or blood testing. A process known as desensitization can be used to help the pet's immune system tolerate the environmental allergens.

In addition to allergy desensitization treatments like the one offered at Alta Rancho Pet & Bird Hospital, there are other treatments pet owners can use to help pets find relief from their allergy symptoms, including various drugs, medicated shampoos, dietary supplements, hypoallergenic diets and antihistamines.

Relevant Topics

AllergiesThe term allergy is used to describe a response, within the body, to a substance, which is not necessarily harmful in itself, but results in an immune response and a reaction that causes symptoms and disease in a predisposed person, which in turn can cau...

FoodFood is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ingested by an organism ...

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